Although he does ask for compassion, he also asks for a mind open enough to follow his argument.

As for cherry picking...he is simply countering the already very carefully picked pieces that have been used to counter the overwhelming message of love and acceptance (or at the very least non-judgement) found throughout the Bible.

If your take on the video was only these two points, then it would seem you already had your mind made up or simply weren't paying much attention.

Unavailing due to their increasingly apparent ignorance of the very tenets they use to support them. Watch the video with an open mind and ask yourself if the arguments made are more in keeping with the message of Christ. You might be surprised by your conclusion.

It could also be that after watching this video, the only possible responses are either to agree with both the analysis and the conclusions reached...or to turn away, to the safety of your views, unchallenged. It is easier to take your ball (in this case unquestioning allegiance to fallacious reasoning) and go home than to present a coherent argument in opposition to this cogent analysis. Bravo to an intelligent, complete analysis using the tools of the trade (the scriptures themselves) to separate the truth from misguided faith.

The ostracization of various minority groups in the name of Christ has gone on far, far too long.

In terms of sustainability, lessening our dependence on domestic and foreign oil, our impact on the environment and even our family budget, there is nothing more beautiful than a solar panel on a roof. Alas, this will NOT be a viable option for most within the regressive restrictions placed on dwellings within Portland's Historic Districts. The Buckman Neighborhood just displayed the length to which people will resist such restrictions (not to mention design review fees and delays), if they know the truth early enough. Portland...right this wrong headed set of restrictions now, or Irvington will be the LAST Historic District created in Portland.

In terms of sustainability, lessening our dependence on domestic and foreign oil, our impact on the environment and even our family budget, there is nothing more beautiful than a solar panel on a roof. Alas, this will NOT be a viable option for most within the regressive restrictions placed on dwellings within Portland's Historic Districts. The Buckman Neighborhood just displayed the length to which people will resist such restrictions (not to mention design review fees and delays), if they know the truth early enough. Portland...right this wrong headed set of restrictions now, or Irvington will be the LAST Historic District created in Portland.

Thanks for acknowledging that a simpler, less costly, less restrictive tool could have been employed...but did not fit in to the actual objectives of this effort. The argument that property values would fall is not born out by data...property values ascended at a high rate before the designation of Irvington/Alameda only to fall recently (during and after designation)...which had nothing to do with deterioration or protection of the neighborhood. These neighborhoods withstood a hundred years of changes large and small. There is no threat to these neighborhoods that cannot be curbed with less draconian measures.

When the cost of simple projects are doubled or tripled...when design professionals are needed to assist in meeting over the top requirements...when sustainable measures such as solar panels are no longer allowed...then only those of means will be able to afford to live in these neighborhoods. Aside from City of Portland staff, who will benefit directly from these efforts? Realtors, architects/designers, consultants to prepare the application and the self appointed saviors who staff the neighborhood associations. I guess it is actually true that you can literally "love something to death". If you think that people will not think twice about buying into a neighborhood where you cannot install solar panels...you don't know Portland.

My recommendation to Buckman residents...get out ahead of this and let them know it is not alright for the wants of a few to dictate how the rest will enjoy their neighborhood...and then install your solar panels NOW as it is likely already too late to head this off. While you are at it...install your mini-libraries and poetry posts...install your neighborhood compost piles and any other features that will undoubtedly no longer be allowed under Historic District designation. Happy 2012!

Agreed on all counts. Which only serves to prove my point. Nobody loves old houses more than I do. I have lovingly restored two houses in NE Portland...no vinyl windows, no steel doors. I would not need the City's help in deciding what to replace with. And frankly, the $1400 to $2000 cost for design review is a game stopper for many, myself included. In this economy...really? Forget it. This is pure and simple class warfare...and do not paint this as sustainable...this actually goes against the city's own efforts at sustainability. Most of the existing solar panels in Portland would not be allowed going forward. This is the height of aesthetics over function. Some would argue that a house that did not kill salmon or drain its residents of money was intrinsicly more valuable...

So again, you choose a sledge hammer over a framing hammer. Fix the conservation district issue...don't ramrod HD designation down the throats of all. If it were put to a straight up vote...with the majority prevailing...it would not go through if the residents understood the ramifications. This process amounts to an opt-out marketing scheme, the likes of which are not legal in Oregon. But go ahead...no one will be able to stop you once you submit the application. The idea that 50% +1 could provide a notarized objection is preposterous.

Under the previously existing conservation district...the appropriate level of protection is afforded. Demolition review has been a requirement in Irvington and other areas designated for conservation.

http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=39750&a=133692

The kinds of changes most homeowners seek (solar panels, doors, windows) along with sustainability and community building things such as Buckman has (community gardens/compost, lending libraries) would be excluded from front yards unless through some extraordinary process.

If Buckman wants protections, have the city designate a conservation district. Otherwise, get ready for more restrictions on how you can use your property...and open your pocketbook.

http://www.irvingtonpdx.com/news/historic_district.html

Historic district designation is a heavy handed tool where a sugical instrument is needed.

From the City's web page:

"Conservation districts are designated by the City of Portland. As for historic districts, this designation is applied to an area that contains a concentration of related historic resources. The level of historic significance is generally "lower" than for historic districts; they are generally important at the local or neighborhood level rather than at the state, region, or national level."

The appropriate level of protection is a Conservation District...not a Historic District.

Buckman neighborhood: New installations such as these will NOT pass historic design review. If you designate your neighborhood as historic, such elements to add charm or character will not be allowed without review...and will be unlikely to pass as in keeping with the historic uses of the neighborhood. Likewise anything so beneficial to community as a compost or vegetabe garden within sight of the street!

Another reason to love Portland... but not the City of Portland's draconian rules and regulations.

See article about Buckman Neighborhood's intent to create Historic District...

Ask Irvington residents how this all worked out for them...or better yet, the Alameda residents who were dragged into Irvington's mess to get the historic designation. After much acrimony by any who understood all the ramifications...we are now to understand that it is simply that the fees associated with historic design review are too high. That is certainly true. But the greater loss is in the new restrictions against improvements not in keeping with the aesthetics of the Irvingtonians in charge. Want to put up solar panels? Good luck. Want to put up a satellite dish? Better be NO part viewable from the street. Want a new door...new windows...better start saving up because there will be few options.

Alas, it is already too late. With the non-democratic process that this decision will be based on...Buckman residents will not be able to stop this if an application is submitted. The bar is low because the feds and state historic preservation offices see no implications imposed by the application...hence the supermajority required to overturn. But once accepted by the feds and the State Historic Preservation Office...all hell is triggered by local (City) regulations. However, getting 50% +1 to oppose will be impossible.

This system is as useful as using a grenade to swat a fly. We all want to see our neighborhood's character preserved...but there are already mechanisms (building permits and reviews) to do that without the historic designation. The fact that process has not always been successful indicates that it needed to be fixed or bolstered. This additional layer of nonsense is seeing a very real backlash among Irvington/Alameda residents...hence the Irvington Community Association's new focus on getting the review fees lowered. Wow...that's rich!

Many jobs will be created with the increased need for respiratory therapists, oncologists, and pharmacologists when the asthma and cancer rates sky rocket. Taken to it's logical extreme, we can count on needing many more engineers to treat our contaminated water supplies and many more doctors to treat those who come into contact with contaminants and we will need fewer fisherman as there will be fewer fish left.

The reasons for obesity range from physical to psychological to environmental. Ridicule and shame do not help those afflicted with any of these causal factors...and can be devastating to those whose self esteem is already damaged by their inability to control their weight. Respect should be based on the full content of one's character...not simply on outward appearances. Thank you for a very insightful article.

"And yet the climate models freely admit they DON'T take into effect the many factors in the climate system." No earth models take all potential factors into account (or "effect" as you so articulately state) that is why the are called models.

"The models claim positive feedbacks only and that water vapor will rise. Anyone with a decent education knows that a system tries to reach equalibrium, not runaway warming."

Who said water vapor would not rise? In fact that is one of the basic features of the greenhouse effect. Systems will try to equilibrate (or equalibrate to use the new term you have coined) unless the overwhelm the assimilative capacity of the system...which has already happened or else the warming would not be escalating with time.

"No need to prove anything to a poster that cannot backup what they write and obviously has no science background, but thanks for the laugh"

I guess I didn't take into "effect" the fact that I was discussing such a complicated topic with someone so astute...maybe I should have "equalibrated" the discussion by inserting more made up pseudo science terminology...but at least you enjoyed yourself! You are welcome.

BadDrug...slow up on the posts for heavens sake. I am worried about Normal Wordstock Spewing...he must be on vacation or something. At this pace you are going to be...2nd Most Active User!!! Quite an honor.

Would never ignore a basic gas law (or any other natural law, intentionally or successfully)...and did not actually find any big confusing words. The information shown in the link appears to be the basis for a lecture aimed at educating a college audience on the relative abilities of the various gasses to cause warming, and most of the information is not controversial. However, look at the first caveat in the text...

Caveat: This analysis is intended to provide a simplified comparison of the various man-made and natural greenhouse gases on an equal basis with each other. It does not take into account all of the complicated interactions between atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial systems, a feat which can only be accomplished by better computer models than are currently in use.

This lecture does not actually argue that humans have not contributing to global warming, only that trying to reduce CO2 emissions will not work due to their relatively low abundance in the atmosphere compared to water vapor and something the author has coined " global warming potential" or GWP.

Nobody is saying that understanding the climate record and the underlying causes of observed climate change is simple...but even if it was, we would still be arguing about whether there is anything that should, or even can, be done to slow or reverse the impacts...and let's not forget that there are those that have a very strong interest in seeing that no reductions or limitations in CO2 emissions are imposed.

What do most of us climate change criers gain from our efforts? Nothing but grief from people like you who think that the paper you cite has "big confusing words"...and for the record, I did not "imply" that I could read...I proved by responding to the previous post. Now, prove you can understand what you read by not just skimming the article you cited for buzz words and gotcha "factoids" like most GCC models do not account for water vapor.

Sands shift in the coastal zone...have seen it first hand since traveling to America when sea level was 300 feet lower...nowhere more so than on a spit such as Coos Spit. The fact that a ship was washed ashore on a spit and was later buried by dunes is more related to the amount of sand traveling through the system than minor changes in sea level...but the point of the article is that there will be more erosion in the overall system as sea level rises. This has been going on since the end of the last ice age (which I actually did not see)...but only problematic as we have developed the coastline.

We never went to the moon. The Garden of Eden was in Missouri. Men walked with dinosaurs. Up is down. Right is left. Oregon is on the East coast. The Earth is flat. Computers don't exist. The Polio vaccine was a hoax. It never rains in Southern California. 2+2=5. Jimmy crack corn and I don't care.

You forgot that "right is left... and left is wrong". Otherwise, a truly poetic response!

Zip ties would not be absolutely necessary as they are already bound together by their a priori knowledge, turbid reasoning and faith-based rhetoric. But not a bad idea. We could use the surplus ducks to install if OSU hasn't gotten rid of them all in favor of remote controlled subs. Then again, who would get aboard a Duck with a batch of climate change deniers?